‘We are fully prepared’ for upcoming elections: Chief Advisor

US Charge d’Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson paid a farewell call on Professor Muhammad Yunus, Principal Advisor to the Interim Government. The meeting was held at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka on Monday (December 29). The meeting discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections and the referendum to be held in February, trade, civil aviation, labor reforms undertaken by the Interim Government, and overall bilateral relations between the two countries.
On the eve of returning home after a one-year stint in Bangladesh, Tracey Ann Jacobson praised the Principal Advisor’s leadership over the past 17 months. She reiterated the US government’s support for the February elections. During the meeting, Principal Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus highlighted the government’s commitment to holding free, fair, and peaceful elections. She said that all preparations are being made to successfully conduct the parliamentary elections and the referendum.
“We are fully prepared,” said Professor Yunus. He added that any attempt to disrupt the peace before the elections would be dealt with sternly. Praising the reform initiatives taken by the interim government, the US Charge d’Affaires specifically described the new labour law as “extraordinary and exceptional”. According to him, these reforms will help attract more foreign investment to Bangladesh.
He also praised the decision to withdraw 45 out of 46 cases filed against labour leaders during the previous government. In response, the Chief Adviser described the new labour ordinance as “an excellent law” and said that the country’s top labour leaders welcomed the reforms and also looked positively at the interim government’s ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
The meeting also discussed the provision of funds for humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya. The Chief Adviser thanked the United States for standing by the Rohingya. Professor Yunus said, “The United States is the single largest donor of life-saving humanitarian assistance to more than a million forcibly displaced Rohingya living in refugee camps in southeast Bangladesh.” He expressed hope that this assistance would continue in the future.
In his farewell meeting, the Principal Advisor thanked Tracey Ann Jacobson for the “important work” she had done during her one-year tenure. He referred to her as a “friend” of Bangladesh and invited her to visit Bangladesh again in the future. National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Senior Secretary for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Lamia Morshed were present at the meeting.